UK name, mostly boys
James
Traditional English form of the name Jacob, of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
James is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for James popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #40, with 1,252 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 9,853 births.
This profile covers 141,878 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 13% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 182,330 living people in the UK are called James. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • James ranked #40 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 1,252 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 9,853 boys were registered as James.
- • James ranks best in East of England in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #1 in 2013.
- • About 182,330 living people in the UK are estimated to have James as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 100.0% of James registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#40
2024
Births in 2024
1,252
Latest year
Peak year
1997
9,853 births
Estimated living
182,330
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for James
In England and Wales birth records, James has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 100.0% of registrations are for boys and 0.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
James registered for boys
- Ranked #40 in 2024
- 1,252 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 1997 (9,853 births)
James registered for girls
- Ranked #5,493 in 2020
- 3 girls registered in 2020
- Peak: 2016 (3 births)
Meaning
What does James mean?
The name James originated from the Hebrew name Jacob, which means "supplanter" or "one who follows". The earliest recorded use of the name James dates back to the New Testament, where it was the name given to two of Jesus Christ's apostles. One was James, the son of Zebedee, and the other was James, the son of Alphaeus.
The name James was initially a variation of the Latin name Iacomus, which was derived from the Greek form of the Hebrew name Jacob, Iakobos. This variation became popular in the early Christian era and was widely adopted across Europe.
In the Middle Ages, the name James gained widespread popularity, particularly in England, where it was associated with several notable figures. One of the most famous bearers of the name was James I of England, who reigned from 1603 to 1625. He was the first monarch of the House of Stuart and played a significant role in the development of the English monarchy.
Another notable figure with the name James was James Cook, the renowned British explorer and navigator. Born in 1728, Cook is celebrated for his extensive voyages across the Pacific Ocean, during which he mapped numerous islands and coastlines, including the eastern coast of Australia.
In the realm of literature, James Joyce, the celebrated Irish novelist and poet, is one of the most famous bearers of the name. Born in 1882, Joyce is best known for his groundbreaking novel "Ulysses", which is considered a masterpiece of modernist literature.
The name James has also been borne by several U.S. presidents, including James Madison, the fourth president, who served from 1809 to 1817 and is known as the "Father of the Constitution". James K. Polk, the 11th president, served from 1845 to 1849 and is remembered for overseeing the acquisition of vast territories during the Mexican-American War.
Throughout history, the name James has maintained its popularity and significance, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries. It continues to be a widely used name in many parts of the world, carrying with it a rich heritage and associations with notable figures from various fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
James over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as James in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For James, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 1,252 births in 2024, compared with 9,853 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
James by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether James was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #33 | 7,965 | 5 |
| 2010s | #13 | 37,483 | 10 |
| 2000s | #6 | 59,247 | 10 |
| 1990s | #3 | 37,183 | 4 |
Geography
Where James is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for James. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
James ranks best in East of England in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #1 in 2013.
Across the UK
James in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#14 in 2024
51 years of NRS records, 35,432 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#1 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 7,126 total registered
Related
Names similar to James
- Jack 188,738
- Joshua 145,192
- Joseph 102,259
- Jacob 93,754
- Jake 66,896
- Jamie 41,243
- Jordan 36,750
- Jayden 28,921
- Jude 24,156
- John 22,240
- Joe 19,164
- Joel 19,004
FAQ
James: questions and answers
How popular is the name James in the UK right now?
In 2024, James was ranked #40 for boys in England and Wales, with 1,252 births registered.
When was James most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 9,853 babies registered as James in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of James?
Traditional English form of the name Jacob, of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
How many people are called James in the UK?
A total of 141,878 babies have been registered as James across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 35,432 more in Scotland and 7,126 in Northern Ireland.
Where is James most common?
In the latest published local rankings, James ranks best in East of England, where it placed #1 in 2013. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.